Selection criteria of closed-loop controllers for DC-DC voltage regulators based on nominal and tolerance design: genetic algorithm and vertex analysis based optimization

Abstract

The method presented in this paper allows the optimal design of feedback compensation networks for DC-DC switching converters. A vertex analysis (VA) based tolerance design approach is adopted. A genetic algorithm (GA) seeks the set of commercial parameters and tolerance values of the RC components such that the compensation network fulfils design constraints on the acceptability ranges of loop gain cross-over frequency and phase margin. Phase margin and pole-zero matching methods are adopted to generate design solutions using two types of compensation networks. The population of design solutions evolves towards different optimal final projects depending on the required design preferences. Interval Arithmetic is used to verify the feasibility of optimal solutions selected by the GA. The results presented in this paper concern the optimal design of the compensation network of buck dc-dc converter. They show that the joined use of GA and VA allows to quickly find optimal projects and to supports designer decisions.